Religion in Japan

The primary religions in Japan are Buddhism and Shinto.
Most Japanese people do not identify as exclusively belonging to just one religion, but incorporate features of both religions into their daily lives (or sometimes 3 religions including Christianity).

Shinto and Buddhist teachings are deeply entangled in Japanese everyday life, though the Japanese people themselves may not be aware of it. Generally speaking, it can be difficult for outsiders to disentangle “real” Japanese religion from everyday superstition and rituals.

One of the main characteristics of Japanese religion is its tendency towards mixing all religions. The same person may have a wedding at a Christian church and have a funeral at a Buddhist temple. Japanese streets are decorated on Tanabata, Obon and Christmas.

Buddhism first came to Japan in the 6th century and for the next 10 centuries exerted profound influence on its intellectual, artistic, social, and political life; 96% of Japan’s population is Buddhist. Most funerals are conducted by Buddhist priests, and burial grounds attached to temples are used by Buddhism, Shinto, and other faiths such as Christianity.

Confucianism, although not practiced as a religion, has deeply influenced Japanese thought.

Shintoism is one of Japan’s largest religions and is the native religion. It originated in and is almost exclusive to Japan. Shinto has no holy book, no founder, and no canon.

Shinto began to fall out of fashion after the arrival of Buddhism, but soon, Shinto and Buddhism began to be practiced as one religion. On sites of Shinto shrines, Buddhist temples were built, and people began to adhere to both.

Christianity is a minor religion in Japan, today according to the recent surveys, there are 1 million Christians in Japan.

Islam has a small community of practicing Muslims in Japan, around 60,000.

NOTE:  The following link is an english SNS in Japan (Youshare Japan). I am writing articles there on Japan/Japanese Culture/Business in Japan/Education in Japan etc, you can find many other blogs.

http://english.youshare.jp/blogs.php?action=show_member_blog&ownerID=1&blogID=3

 

Japanese site:

http://japanese.youshare.jp